Workshop: Media Crash Course for Marine Scientists & Conservationists
About the workshop
This half-day workshop, delivered at the International Marine Conservation Congress, was designed for marine scientists and conservation practitioners with little or no experience working with the media. It aimed to demystify how journalism works, build confidence, and help participants communicate their work accurately and engagingly to non-specialist audiences.
The challenge
Researchers are often expected to speak to journalists but rarely receive training in how the media operates. Many worry about being misquoted, oversimplified, or taken out of context. Conference organisers wanted a session that was practical, confidence-building, and tailored specifically to marine science and conservation issues..
What we delivered
An interactive workshop combining teaching, real-world examples, and hands-on practice:
Overview of the media landscape and how it differs from academic publishing
What makes research newsworthy
How scientists can proactively engage with media
Interview preparation frameworks and key message development
Step-by-step breakdown: from research to press release to publication
Practice scenarios for applying skills in real time
Outcomes
Participants left with a clear understanding of how media works, practical tools for interview preparation, and increased confidence in communicating their science to journalists.
Post-workshop feedback highlighted the session's practical focus and the value of understanding journalist perspectives.
